used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon.
at or in the front
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
boiledadjectiveUS /bɔɪld/
cooked in hot water
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
fearless and daring
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
canyonnounUS /ˈkænjən/
a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
From this reading The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon.
CascadeverbUS /kæˈskeɪd/
rush down in big quantities, like a cascade
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
channelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/
a path over which electrical signals can pass
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
curvenounUS /kɜːrv/
the trace of a point whose direction of motion changes
From this reading The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon.
cutsnounUS /kʌts/
plural of “cut” — a share of the profits
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
destinationnounUS /ˌdestəˈneɪʃən/
the place designated as the end (as of a race or journey)
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
the petals or sepals of a flower that bend downward (especially the outer perianth of an iris)
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
flankedverbUS /flæŋkt/
past form of “flank” — be located at the sides of something or somebody
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
flownounUS /floʊ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
Fraser
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
gradenounUS /ɡreɪd/
a body of students who are taught together
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
granitenounUS /ˈɡrænət/
plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
hairpinnoun
a double pronged pin used to hold women's hair in place
From this reading The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
headlongadverbUS /ˈhedlɔːŋ/
with the head foremost
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
ten 10s
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
ImperialadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɪriəl/
relating to or associated with an empire
From this reading The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
immediately past
From this reading The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
leisurelyadverbUS /ˈliːzərli/
in an unhurried way or at one's convenience
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
LimitedadjectiveUS /ˈlɪmətəd/
small in range or scope
From this reading The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon.
lurchedverbUS /lɜːrtʃt/
past form of “lurch” — walk as if unable to control one's movements
From this reading The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon.
roused to anger
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
movesnounUS /muːvz/
plural of “move” — the act of deciding to do something
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
parallelnounUS /ˈperəlel/
something having the property of being analogous to something else
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
placidlyadverbUS /ˈplæsɪdli/
in a quiet and tranquil manner
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
any competition
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
railsnounUS /reɪlz/
a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
marked by exceptional merit
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
sluiceverbUS /sluːs/
pour as if from a sluice
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
snarledadjectiveUS /ˈsnɑːrəld/
tangled in knots or snarls
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
refrain from harming
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon.
threescorenoun
a set with 3 times 20 members
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
tidewaternounUS /ˈtaɪdwɔːtər/
low-lying coastal land drained by tidal streams
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
timberedadjective
furnished with or made of wood or timbers
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
tracksnounUS /træks/
plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
turgidadjectiveUS /ˈtɜːrdʒɪd/
ostentatiously lofty in style
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
urgeverbUS /ɜːrdʒ/
force or impel in an indicated direction
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
at the time that
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Ahead opened out a timbered valley,--narrow on its floor, flanked with bold mountains, but nevertheless a valley,--down which the rails lay straight and shining on an easy grade.
which person or people
From this reading The mad haste had fallen from it as haste falls from one who, with time to spare, sees his destination near at hand; and the turgid Fraser had time to spare, for now it was but threescore miles to tidewater.
wideradjectiveUS /ˈwaɪdər/
comparative of “wide” — having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading The river that for a hundred miles had boiled and snarled parallel to the tracks, roaring through the granite sluice that cuts the Cascade Range, took a wider channel and a leisurely flow.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon.
YalenounUS /jeɪl/
a university in Connecticut
From this reading The Imperial Limited lurched with a swing around the last hairpin curve of the Yale canyon.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading So the great river moved placidly--as an old man moves when all the headlong urge of youth is spent and his race near run.
